An Update on Life

It's been really kind of exciting to get back into life again while I continue to get better and see myself improve. Today's post is just to fill you in on life lately.

Just recently, I got a denture. I'm sure you all know that out of my bottom teeth, I only have 4. So this denture looks legitimately real and gives me some front teeth on the bottom row. And I do sound better when I talk! A dentist/orthodontist in my ward, Dr White, deserves a huge shout out for this. Thank you!! I never thought I'd say that I have a denture at age 19, but okay. We joke about how out of all my siblings, I never had to get braces, but then have all these other problems. Ironic, isn't it?

Looks real, doesn't it?

 

I have a calling! Ihave a calling! I am a primary teacher for a Valiant 8 class. I team teach with an old young men's leader, and I love it. Primary is such a good calling, I'm learning a lot!

About a month ago, I got a job. I work at the Stratford Court Hotel and the Best Western El Rey Inn. It's the two hotels on both sides of the Tiki Shack. I'm a front desk clerk, and really, I love it. I've had some crazy people to deal with already (for example, a woman who calls at 3 AM to complain about not having a TV in her room- which really is kind of a problem. But at 3 AM? She did rent out about 5 rooms). I work with some awesome people and it's cool to meet so many new faces. I miss working at DQ, but this job is a little less hectic and loud, which  is good for me right now.

After praying and thinking about it for quite a while, I decided that I am moving out! I am moving into an apartment complex my dad is building, called Thunderbird Landing. I wasn't sure if I should've or not, but in this last conference, that was one of my questions. I heard the term "self reliant" a few times in about three different talks and knew that was my answer! It's kind of frightening, especially because of what the checkup could show next month, but really, all I need to do is trust, and everything will work out!

 

I officially declared a major and minor! We'll see if I actually stick with it. I am a Communications major with a Strategic Communication emphasis and a minor in Graphic Design. I would love to go into Public Relations or Advertising. With my counselor, we mapped out the rest of courses I need to take, and I could have my Bachelor's in three years of schooling! Exciting, huh?

 

 

 

I decided that I'll be attending SUU again for both the fall and spring semesters, since the earliest I could think about a mission is next spring. I'm taking 15.5 credits this fall, and I'm excited to be on my own and to be in college again, with classes a little harder than generals. I've been blessed that I will have all of school paid for. It really helps, because I've had a little more to worry about before. After next spring, I honestly don't know. If I can't go into the mission field/service mission quite yet, I've thought about being an EFY counselor. So I've got a few options. 

 

I've spent my summer working, hanging out with the family, watching Netflix, and reading/writing letters to my friends in the mission field. I live having some sort of a routine, but being lazy as well.

It's so exciting to get back into life again and I'm really excited to move on and hopefully be done (or as close to done as I can get) with having cancer. It's helped my life tremendously, but it's time to get on with bigger and better things in my life. I hope that everything works out well the next few months!

Keep running.

Six Months Ago

I cannot believe it's already been six months since my huge surgery!

 

 

 

 

Yes, it took me the whole week up there to grow my "mustache," if you can call it that!

 

 

Does the PT guy kinda remind you of Haymitch?

 

 

 

Aint I perdy?

 

 

When I think about all that has happened over the last six months, a few thoughts come to mind.

 

First, I'm amazed. Amazed at how I've been able to heal, amazed that I seem "normal," amazed at the miracles that can happen, and amazed at what I've been blessed with!

 

Second, I'm heartbroken. Heartbroken that I have to face this trial again. Heartbroken that I can only imagine how my parents feel- their child with cancer. Heartbroken that I am harder to understand, and it's harder to eat.

 

But I'm also full of love. Love for my friends who surprised me the weekend before my birthday, love for my family for being so awesome through everything, love for those around me by always asking how I'm doing or feeling.

 

Lastly, I'm full of hope. Hope that someday I will again be officially cancer free. Hope that I can move past this and get on to the bigger and better things that come with being an adult. Hope for a future when cancer isn't a threat. Hope for the resurrection, when my body will be PERFECT!

 

The biggest thing I've learned in the last six months is that nothing good will happen unless you have hope, optimism, and faith.

I made this in Graphics during my senior year. I still have to say
that it is one of my favorite quotes!

 

Bad things happen everyday, but how one responds and grows because of the adversity is what matters.

 

Keep running.

Good Things To Come

I came across this video yesterday, and I think it's definitely worth five minutes of your time.

Bad things that happen are really inconvenient. For me, having cancer was never part of "the plan," or so I thought. But I like it when the video says that "we all have times when we need to know that things will get better... and that's what the gospel of Jesus Christ offers us."

One word comes to mind: hope.

What do I hope? Well, I hope that I can be completely healed, I hope to be able to serve the Lord through a mission, I hope to marry in the temple, I hope to meet my Savior again one day.

Throughout my treatments and recoveries, the thought that "things WILL get better" always stuck out in my mind. Isn't it comforting to know that at some point in the future, it will be better?

For some points in my life, things have gotten better. Life really is good. I can't complain for all that I've been blessed with. And for some other points, I'm still waiting. But that doesn't mean that I'm hating life. It's frustration to deal with myself and my life sometimes, but not frustrating to a point where I regret anything. I love my life, and everything in it!

So remember, if things aren't "good," reevaluate yourself, count your blessings and always remember that no matter who or where you are, there are "good things to come."

Keep running!

It's Part of the Test

As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I believe in the Plan of Salvation. I know that once we die, we're not "done." This earth life is just a small portion of the plan.

For an explanation of the Plan of Salvation directly from the official church websites, click here or here.

We lived as spirit children of our Heavenly Father in the Pre-Mortal Existence before this life. The reason that we are on the Earth is first, to gain a physical body; and second, we are being tested. We learn, progress, and experience how we would act away from our Heavenly Father. That's why this earth life is sometimes called the "test."

Before coming to Earth, we were told what we would face on the Earth, and then as we went through the veil and were born, we had no recollection of the Pre-Mortal Existence while in this life. I can only wonder what I was thinking when I was told what I'd face. I'm ready, get me down there! or I don't know about this. I want to say that I thought Well, it's sure not going to be easy. But as long as I'm faithful it will all be worth it in the end!

While going through certain trials I have, I realize that this is the plan for me all along. But Heavenly Father didn't allow me to have cancer just to "make things interesting." He allowed me to have cancer because He knew the growth that I could potentially have, and how much it really would bless my life. It's all part of the test. I'm growing from the test, and hopefully by the time I die of extremely old age, I plan to live to about 150 :), I can say that I worked hard throughout the test and know the "grade" I'm getting will definitely be worth it.

Another thing I've kind of had a hard time with is watching my friends leave on missions. It's been really hard to see them go, not because I'll miss them (don't get me wrong, I will), but because if I hadn't had a relapse, I would be out in the mission field right now. I want to go, but I can't because I'm not healthy enough right now. But I've had testament after testament that I will serve a mission. Maybe not a full time mission like everyone else, but somehow I will serve the Lord. It's not Heavenly Father's plan for me to be out in the field right now. Dealing with this, and realizing that Heavenly Father knows what He's doing is part of the test.

Sometimes I fight with my brother. I love the heck out of him, and I'm learning more and more about unconditional love, Christ's love, for everyone. That's part of the test.

A partially new jawbone, missing teeth, scars, a dry mouth and speech is all part of the test.

Like any test, there are super hard parts. There are kind of hard parts. And there are easy parts. But throughout the whole thing, we need to remember one thing:

It's    an      OPEN  BOOK  test!

 

 

(and this isn't it!)

If you'd like a copy of any of these, please let me know. I'd be more than happy to get one for you.

 

 

If you remember one of my previous posts, I told about how reading the Book of Mormon seriously, every day, made a difference in my life for the better. So I encourage you to read these open books everyday. EVERY day. It will make the test easier, I promise you. It's made parts of my test easier!

 

 

Until next week, keep running!

   -and keep reading, too! :)